Was it day or night? She didn’t know and perhaps she didn't care anymore. All around her moans and silent crying of pleasure and pain filled the hallway and the little niche in the dark dank dungeon that was her cell. A chuck of stale bread covered in a foal reeking white goo lay on a plate just inside her reach. The plate had been positioned in such a way that a direct sweep would just push it away. But she and many other red collars before her had learned the hard way on how to obtain her meal. But for now, she lay there. Recovering from the treatment some brown collars had given her. Small droplets of the same goo that covered the bread slowly dripped from her marehood. Slowly creating a small puddle on the hard stone floor mixing with the crimson red stain already present. She looked once more at the bread as she closed her eyes trying to remember what had happened. Trying her best to fight the feeling of being useless, trying her very best to be assured that at least she had been pleasing to her betters.
Two of the masters' brown collars had came down a few moments ago. They were proud, the masters oldest daughter had selected them to be her personal servants. Their collars now bore a shiny metal disk with her flankmarking embroiled on it. They even had one of their own restored by the magic of one of the priests. And of course as a personal brown they now had full access to the lowest regions of the mansion, thus access to her as well. The only red collar still chained to her niche. And celebrated they had. For how long she did not know. As usual she had blanked out completely, just letting it happen. Meekly and without resistance, like she had been taught all those years ago. Briefly she had snapped out of it, feeling a sharp burning pain as a whip lashed across her back, creating small streams of red liquid down towards her flank. She could not even cry out in pain, for one of the two had stuck his her muzzle directly in his tailhole. And had ordered her to help him wash up so he would look presentable to his mistress again. The taste it left on her tongue implied that he had visited one of the male red collars only a few moments before.
Not much later she 'woke up' again. Both stallions were gone, only leaving a small gift over her meal and a few dried patches of now brownish liquid near her body as evidence that they had actually been there in the first place.
Years ago tears would have formed in her eyes due the treatment. But those had dried out long ago. Weary her ash-grey eyes looked at the defiled bread. She had looked forward to mealtime today. She had been exceptionally brave last offering. Not a single tear had desecrated the sacred altar when the priest had collected the crimson liquid from her veins. Not a single salty drop had even emerged from her eyes nor had a single sound escaped her throat. The master had promised her a piece of bread for today, not the usual slob. She would normally only get such a treat during one of the masters gatherings and parties. She remembered how it had smelled when it was brought to her, she had just lay there enjoying the scent of this rare treat before eating. And now it lay before her, defiled by the very same ponies that earlier had sought to pleasure themselves with her body. It had been her own fault, that much she knew. Should have eaten it when it was brought. She should be glad they had not taken it away. But instead she had chosen to savor its delicious scent, working up to the moment of actually eating it.
Carefully the chained mare started swiping the goo off the bread. Careful as to get as much of the stuff off it as possible while attempting to waste as little of the bread as possible. She had just taken the first carefull nibble of the top. Still soggy and odd-tasting from the goo, but she relished in its taste non the less. A small joy came in her heart knowing that the inner core of her piece would still be dry and free of contamination. But she was never destined to reach that little morsel.
Half-way trough her meager meal when the master himself had stormed in, a sword flaring within his magical aura. There had been something in his eyes, something feral and fierce. Something wich terrified the mare beyond anything she had ever seen before. And that was before the master had started.
In a gruesome but elegant dance the blade sliced through the air, each swift motion created a new display of red droplets soaring through the damp air only to create a artpiece of crimson behind its victems on the walls.
Why? Why was master killing all? Had they not pleased him enough? Had they not given their very being everytime master had asked? Did master not realize a red collars only existance was to cater his wishes? Her thoughts were getting more and more frantic as her master aproached clearing out cell after cell from all live. She never heard the clanging of armor rushing down the stairs into the 'pen', all she could see was the soulles eyes of her master, eyes drained of every last dredge of emotion only a grim determinthe situationation.
A final glance directed at the rare treat infront of her before taking a single bite out of it. Atleast she would go while having tasted the good section of her meal. She had no need to make peace with the situation, she had done that years ago when her master had bought her and presented her with the collar she had worn to that very day.
With her bite swallowed she closed her eyes with a final look at the crazed Unicorn now steadely coming her way after the cell before hers had been cleared. And braced herself for the unavoideble impact of the sword.
A impact that never came. Instead of cold steel slicing through her, it had been the clear ringing of steel falling on stone what got her to open her eyes.
Standing right infront of her was her master, but right between his eyes there portruded a bolthead. The moment she had saw the crossbowbolt it had been the moment her master had collapsed revealing a small band of golden armored stallions. But as she looked closer she could not identify their master, they bore no collar. All they had was a emblem of what appeared to be the sun.
As the group approached the dead body of her master the mare started to withdraw as far as she could. As the group of about zeven armored ponies were slowly advancing towards her little niché she had held her breath hoping they would not notice her.
But her luck had run completely out. The first of the golden armored stallions had noticed the greyish shiffing bundle of pony and was surprised by the sight as he yelled out. “Commander! We've got a survivor.”
It was deep in the night, those who were not of nocturnal nature were all vast asleep. At least all should be asleep. But like many other days candlelight could still be seen burning through one of the windows of a ancient oak at the edge of the Ponyville marketplace. A tree which doubled as the towns library and home to a studious unicorn.
Still, tonight she was not awake because of her studies or astronomy. No, a simple sheet of parchment arrived by means of the flames of her draconian assistant was occupying her mind. It was not unusual for the lavender mare to receive a letter from her mentor this way, but this one was different from the many others. Unlike the others before it there were no pleasantries in it. No comments on previous letters. Nothing, just a few lines of words. Simple words which constantly replayed within the scholars mind, never giving her peace.
From the desk of H.R.M. Princess Celestia, regent of the sun and day.
To my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle,
In light of recently uncovered events I would like to request your presence in the castle.
A chariot will arrive for you at noon tomorrow.
With regards,
H.R.M.
Princess Celestia
It had been just past dinner time when the letter arrived. At first she thought it was the response to a question she asked relating to the lay-energie resonance she had found in a crystal. But surely such a simple thing would not be enough to be called back to the castle? Right?
But if it wasn’t this, then what could it be?
Her assistant had tried several times to calm the panicking mare. Unfortunately for him he had chosen his comforting words rather poorly. “If you had done something wrong she would have sought you out here, not asking you to join her in the castle.” And “Please calm down Twilight. Remember the last time you started freaking out on us. I doubt the town can handle a second smarty pants incident”
It was at the memory of that incident a month or 3 ago that she really started getting worked up. 'What if she just said those things back then? What if she just needed time to think up my punishment? Or maybe now that Shining is on his honeymoon he cant persuade her to leave it be'
And with those thoughts she started to slip into even more ridiculous idea's and concepts on why exactly she had been summoned.
Her tea levitating behind her as she paced about the wooden floor. A few sips of the now cold beverage, she started the feel a bit dizzy and sleepy. Not even noticing it much due her frantic state of mind she started to feel more drowsy with every sip she took of her herbal based brew. After just a few more sips a loud tud combined with the sound of breaking porcelain could be heard echoing through the libraryhome.
From above the staircase a small purple and green scaled figure arose from the shadows, armed to the teeth with blankets and a pillow. Softly he muttered to himself as he saw the mare peacefully sleeping “I should really thank Zecora, the sleeping potion worked just as she said.” Looking at the mare gently sleeping on the floor in front of him he could not help but sigh 'She`s going to hate me for spiking her tea with it, but it was for the best.'
––––
The trip towards the castle was rather uneventful. As usual the stallions pulling the chariot through the open sky were less then talkative. It took little over an hour to get to her destination. Long enough for Twilight to think about how she got the banging headache she woke up with. Aswell why she had woken on the floor under a few blankets and a pillow under her head. At the end of the ride the only remaining explanation was to give Spike a scolding when she got back. All evidence was pointed at the baby dragon. Therefore the logical conclusion was that he was somehow involved or knew what exactly had happened last night before she fell asleep.
Moments after landing she had been led towards the throne room. But something about the atmosphere was off. There was no servant in sight along the corridors she was let through. Only a very few guards, all of them wore the insignia of Celestia's personal guard. What was going on, it felt like the entire castle was on high alert. The entire feel of the situation had put Twilight on a edge. Did Discord break out again? Were there more changeling sightings? She hoped all would be explained after she saw her mentor.
As the massive doors opened and the regal form of Celestia showed, the lavender mare knew something was off. But before she could ask or even say anything the alicorn looked at her student with tears forming in her eyes. Horn slowly starting to glow as the room filled with raw magic. Thoughts raced through Twilight’s mind 'Why? Have I disappointed her so much? Did I do something wrong?'
Slowly as the lay-energy around the princess' horn reached a peak she spoke. “I am sorry my student. But to ensure my survival and thus that of all of the land, your live must cease so its lifefoce can strengthen my own.” With the last word spoken the energy was unleashed in a ray of pure solar energy directed straight at the now softly crying mare.
As she saw the focused light from the princess' horn coming towards her in a painstakingly slow pace she closed her eyes in anticipation to what was bound to happen. Although closed by her eyelids teardrops could still be seen softly flowing over her cheeks accompanied by her soft sobbing which pierced the otherwise dead silent room.
She could now only feel the heat of the concentrated solar energy coming ever closer. Within moments a burning sensation filled her body. The odor of her scorching furcoat and mane filled the air. Allowing herself a final breath before conceding to her fate she could smell the awful scent. The tang of her burning fur reminded her a lot of crispy hashbrows and fresh coffee.
The moment the scents were processed by her overactive mind something clicked. 'Wait a second, burned fur does not smell at ALL like hasbrows and coffee, what in Celestia's name is going on here?' Fearfully she opened a single eye. Only to stare right in the rays of the sun, blurring her sight. A detached voice that seemed to come from far away as she felt gently nudging, a familiar voice one she thought never to hear again.
“Gee Twilight, are you going to lay there all day or are you getting up for some breakfast. You do remember that your transportation to the castle will be here within the hour right? Because I highly doubt the princess would like a Sparkle-centered swiss roll to go with her tea.”
2 groggy eyes strained themselves open as Twilight attempted to wake up fully, trying to dispel the strange dream. With her mind not asleep but yet not fully awake she tried standing up. Only to crash back to the floor almost instantly. It seemed that her dream had caused her to twist and turn like crazy throughout the night. Effectively rolling her up in a cocoon of blankets.
